Maggie's blog

In 2012, I want to keep my home and family organized, so I went all out with calendars, to-do lists, and an amazing resource binder. I knew by starting the year off with all the right tools, I’d be setting myself up to keep what could otherwise be a pretty tough resolution! FedEx Office® was the ultimate one-stop shop for getting everything in order. I used them to make all the items that I hope will make 2012 my most productive and organized yet!

During the holiday season FedEx Office^® sees a huge increase in the volume of packages that come through our centers. We love helping people make sure those special gifts arrive in perfect condition. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of dos and don’ts for everyone planning to ship a gift this holiday season.  

The holidays are fast approaching and we wanted to give you a heads-up on how to take some of the hassle out of this holiday season. When traveling to visit family this Thanksgiving, avoid the seemingly endless lines at the airport by “checking your bags” at FedEx Office^®. Not only can you fly past the ticket counter straight to security, but your luggage will be waiting for you at mom’s house or the hotel when you arrive at your destination.   ...read more

My two cats are messier eaters than my son. I am constantly urging them not to play with their food and water...but somehow I don’t think they’re getting the message! And really, who can train a cat?! They seem to be fascinated with making a mess. Random items from around the house seem to end up in their bowls, such as hair ties and candy wrappers. They have even come up with a system for eating where one crunches up the large pieces and the other cat eats the leftover crumbs! The other night I caught the little one with her paw in the water, repeatedly batting at the edge and splashing water everywhere.

Q: If you weren’t blogging for Out of Office, what kind of blog would you want to write?

A: I’d like to say I would blog about something worldly like art or cooking, but realistically I would probably blog about my life experiences. I think a lot of people can relate to trying to live a balanced life. 

We have a great idea for teachers to spruce up the classroom (or parents to use at home to educate or inspire). Window clings are a good way to utilize space and get noticed. It’s also an excellent way to prominently display everyday items such as classroom rules, daily task lists or schedules. 

In these money-conscious times I think that “staycation” vacations are becoming more popular. But it can be difficult to keep kids entertained during the long summer months. One thing I found to pass the time is a summertime scavenger hunt. Since my son is developing his reading skills, I used photos I took to accompany the words so that he can play the game and learn to associate the word with its matching photo. I also chose summer themed objects for him to find on our adventure – some that are kept inside the house and others kept outside. 

Everyone who sees my son does not believe he is 3 years old. In fact, for a year people have been telling me he is the size of a 5 year old! The doctor has placed him in the 99th percentile for height since he was 6 months old – and I wanted to keep track of my little beanpole!  I created a growth chart to measure his progress, but the paper one I received at his baby shower just wasn’t cutting it. I wanted to design something more durable and unique, something just for him.

I used Adobe® Illustrator to design my chart. I wanted to create something that he could use as he gets a bit older and his tastes change (for example his walls are now BRIGHT superhero red – a color he picked himself!)  I used many bright colors and bold shapes. (Tip: the ruler tool was very helpful in making an accurate scale.)
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Something you hear parents say on practically a daily basis is that their children grow up way too fast. It seems as though I blinked and my little man is turning 3 years old! Baby jungle animals are being replaced by superheroes and I am just trying to hold onto every moment I can.

It comes as no shock to parents that children like to put things into their mouths. My son has even gone so far as to eat an entire puzzle at nap time! Since he likes doing puzzles – and some time has passed since the “incident” – I decided to make a homemade puzzle using a piece of his artwork. And because it is his own masterpiece, I think it will be easier for him to recognize how the final puzzle should look.

Here are the steps I followed to create my puzzle: